Machine for coating rulers



Jan. 20, 1953 B. s. DoMBRowsKl MACHINE FOR coATING RuLERs 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1949 mw www-.. Q ma ESFN www S s .Q Sw 9 Si Jan. 20, 1953 B. S. DOMBROVYSKI MACHINE FORV COATING RULERS' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1949 B. S. DOMBROWSKI MACHINE FOR COATING RULERS Jan. 20, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Sept. 26, 1949 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES MACHINE/FOR COATING. RULERS' Briney. SLDombrowski, SenecaFalls; N Y; Applicaton'iseptember 26, 194.9Sera'l No. -117i81S-s any. desired character-.such as rulers, blind slats and" the, like.

yThe: ,primary 4purpose- .of this: invention .is to providezan apparatus:forrautomaticallynapplying azv coating.; to: slats;` efficiently; t expeditiously 1 and which may hefreadilyadiusted: to accomodate differentsizes. of. slats;as..de'sired...

A tfurther. .object of .ftheainventions to; provide an apparatus; invwhich a plurality: ofv .slats .may beistoredA and; whereby. the.. slats. .rnayfbev successively.'` and; intermittently: fed; from the: placezof storage, then positively passed through .arstation where. al. coating mayy be.; applied .thereto,. and thence .moved;.through aibrushassembly. whereby the; coating .may `.begevenlyspread. overV the .entire surface -ofH the slat'.

`A further; object offtheinventionis to; provide a "slat' hopper van apparatusas :set tforth herein? before., which may be;;readilyxadjusted toaccom.- modate itself to different.dimensionsfofzslata and Which'when so adjusted: willv notaffectthe nneration of the meansA for,dischargingzthezslatsfrom the. hopperv andthemeans for feeding the sla-ts so. discharged through the spraying., andv brush assemblies oft the apparatus.

Yet-another object of the. invention isftoiprozvide a hopper which will-accommodate various thicknesses of slats. without alteration in theslat discharging meansl from vthe hopper, V.and despite t'hevprovisionY of` a discharge opening whichis ixed'. as to `its .dimension andk position.

A still further objectof the invention is .to provide a slatdischarging means` for intermitt'ently= removing slats., from the hopper and de;- livering'the same to a feeding mechanism for passage thereby .through the spray and' brush assemblies,v whichoperating means is' capable of handlingvarious sizes' of' slats by employing or rendering effective'l only certain predetermined portions of its operating4 stroke.

These; together4 withvarious ancillary'features andV objects of the invention which willflater become apparent as the following 'description proceeds,l are-attained-bythe' present device,- the preferred embodiment of v/hich'hasA been illustrated by way of examplev only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l1 a side elevationalview off apre'- ferred embodiment-ofthe apparatus,` parts'fbeing brokenaway and" certain concealed parts being indicated1l` by@ dotted lines-therein;

Figure` '2is va top plan.viewfofftheapparatus of Figure 1.parts being .broken-away andcertain concealed parts being indicated Vby dotted lines therein;

Figure 3 is. a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the, Aplane f of the section4 line 3-3 of .Figurel 2- and Iillustrating upon an. enlarged scale the.. association of :the hopper, the slatdischarge means,.the.slat.feed ing roller assembly, the .sprayingk device and. :the brush assembly;

Figure .4 .is a .verticali transverse sectional view taken upon an enlarged-scale substantially`V upon the. plane of. the sectionline 4 4! of. Figurer-1 and.v illustrating. the 1 variable. drivingmechanism of. the4 slat. discharge. means.;v

Figure .is a verticalsectionalivew oft'headinstable and yieldable feedsroller assembly. of the invention;

Figure 6 is. averticalsectonal vView taken'sub'- stantially upon the plane offthe section line 62--6 of Figure 3y and illustrating the associationof the slat discharge meansandftheslat retaining hopper of. the. invention;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the planeoflthe.section-'line 11-1 Vof Figure 2 and illustrating,.'thegearing assembly for drivingthe feedfrollers of theinventiom/ Figure 8 isa .sectionallview taken substantially upontl-ie plane of vsection line..8"-8`.of Figure 7i VFigure 9` is a vertical transverse sectional'view 'taken substantially. upon .the plane of fthe v.section line Sie-Blof" Figure 3;4 and` illustrating. certain details o'f the brush assembly ofthe inventionj Figure"y 1U" is a verticali sectional detail view taken substantially upon lthe planeofthe section line IiP-IU of Figure' lD and illustrating certain details of a portion of the brush assembly; and

liigu-rev 11 is' an' elevational` view` of aV drive gearing' forming a part' of the invention;

The present* appara-tus' is`- provided toename slatsof diffe-rent sizesand#dimensions-to 'be autom maticallyhandled for apply-ing al liquid:u coating smoothly an'd evenly' distributing# the coating throughout and overv trie:` entire'-v surface of' the slatu and removing excess 1 coating: therefrom; :all in anu uninterrupted` operation` as the slat' is `caused to travel? through the variouswpart'sr of consist of a hopper assembly for storing and dispensing the slats as desired, a ram assembly comprising a slat discharging means for intermittently removing slats successively from the hopper, a roller feeding assembly for positively feeding the slatv removed by the discharging ram throughout the spray and brush assemblies of the invention, a coating assembly for applying charges of4 liquid coating to the slats, and a brush assembly for distributing the coating evenly over the slats and removing excess coating therefrom.

Although the same is not essential, to carrying out the principles of this invention, the apparatus may conveniently comprise a supporting framework indicated generally by the'numeral I upon which the various elements of the apparatus may be supported and mounted in the necessary relative positions. It is of course understood that the sam'e'assemblage of elements could be employed upon separate supports rather than upon a single supporting frame.

Hopper construction assembly The hopper assembly indicated generally by the numeral I2 is illustrated in Figures 1-3 and 6, and comprises front andrear frame members I4 and I6 which are suitably secured upon any desired support such as the supporting framework I0 in any convenient manner. The members I4 and I6 conveniently assume the form of vertically disposed channel members having their channels facing each other for receiving a stack ofslats I8. Preferably, one of the channel walls 'I5 of each of the members I4 and I6 is of a construction which permits lateral adjustment towards the other wall, whereby the width of the channelV may be varied to accommodate slats of different width. For this purpose, the members 'I4 and I6 have laterally extending guides II slidably received in channels I9 of the members I5 together with wing nuts 2l for securing the walls I in laterally adjusted position. Similarly, the members I4 and I6 maybe adjusted relative to `each Vother so that the same may accommodate slats 'of different length.

1 At its lower extremity, the forward member I4 is provided with a horizontal discharge opening or slot 20 which is of suiicient height and width to accommodate the widest'and thickest slat with whichitv is intended to employ this apparatus. Conveniently, this discharge opening or slot may A*be'formed by a laterally extending horizontally disposedange 22 integrally or otherwise carried by the front member I4, together with the upper 'surface of' a table or the like 24 forming a part Aof the support frame I0.

Since the discharge openingof the hopper is of xed dimensions, it is desirable to position the Alowermost slat of the stack of slats in vertically adjusted positions so that but a single slat, which is thevr lowermost of the pile of slats, registers with the discharge opening 22. For this purpose, a slat positioning means consisting of a vertically extending plate 26 is secured to the exterior and rearward surface of the rear member I6, and is adjustable vertically thereupon as by means yof elongated slots 21 and wing nuts 28, the lower end of this member 26 having a forwardly or inwardly turned flange forming a foot 30, this .flange being receivable under the lowermost of the pile of slats lthrough a suitable opening in the member I6 whereby the entire pile of slats may: beraised or lowered by proper adjustment Slat discharging ram A means is provided for automatically dispensing slats intermittently and successively from the slat discharge opening of the hopper. This means conveniently comprises a reciprocating ram which is intermittently operated and with a variable stroke by a continuously rotating shaft. For this purpose, the table 24 directly beneath the pile of slatsv and in longitudinal alignment and disposed medially of the same is provided with a slot 32, and depending from the table 24 upon opposite sides of the slot are a pair of flanged members 34 and 36 which are spaced from each other to constitute a guide for a plate 38 forming a slide therein. This plate has an upstanding lug 40, see Figures 3 and 6, which extends through the slot 32 and sumciently above the upper surface of the table 24 to engage the rear end of one of the slats I8. It will thus be seen that when the ram is moved forward or to the left as viewed in Figure 3, the lug 46 will push a slat I8 from the bottom of the pile ahead of the ram and through the discharge opening 20. When the slat has been completely withdrawn from its discharge opening, and when the ram has been returned to its original position, the pile of slats will now drop down so that the next slat is positioned for discharge upon the next forward movement of the ram.l

Depending from the slide 38 of the ram is a lug 42 having a laterally extending pin 44 upon which is journaled a block forming a cross head 46, this cross head being slidably received in a slot 48 at the upper extremity of and extending longitudinally of a ram operating lever 50, which is pivoted upon a pin 52 at its lower extremity for oscillatory movement.

It will now be seen that the lever 50 oscillates. the slide 38 will be reciprocated, and the necessary relative motion between the slide and lever is permitted by the block or cross head 46 sliding in the slot 48 of the lever. In order to vary the limits of movement of the slide, as when it is necessary to adjust the two hopper members I4 and I 6 to accomodate different lengths of slats, the pin 52 is adjustably received in an elongated slot 54 of an adjusting bracket 58 mounted upon any suitable part of the frame I0. It will now be seen that by adjusting the pivot pin 52 of the lever 50 forwardly or rearwardly of the slot 54, the position of the slide 38 will .mounted a crank pin 66 having a collar 68 journaled thereon, a connecting rod 'I0 being terminally connected to this collar 68, as indicated in Figures 1, v3 and 4the connecting rod acarreo@ being furtherv` adjustably secured and slidablyy received in a retaining'member 12 which'is pivotally connectedfas at 14 to the -lever v50 -intermediate its extremities. stroke -of theV lever may be varied by varying the relativeV distance of the pin 66 and collar 68: from the center of rotation of the shaft 60 by adjusting the-same along the slot 64, whereby the amplitude of the stroke of the connecting rodcan be readily adjusted.- By means of the block4 'I4 and its adjustable engagement upon the connectingirod 10, the aforesaid adjustment of' the lever 50 by means of' the vpivot pin 52ad'- justable in the slot 54 maybe effected without variation of) the stroke of theA connecting rod and the-consequent degree-of oscillation of theV lever.'

,As will now be seen, upon` rotation lof the shaft 6'0" theY lever will be oscillated, 'the slide will be reciprocated and slats will'be intermittently and successively discharged from the hopper. Also, by v4means ofthe abovementioned construction, theposition or limits of the slide travel and/orl the extent or overall lengthof slide travel can be easily regulated.

Attention is now directed primarily to Figure to the shaft 60. asby a key 90, the latterin turn i being xedto Vthe shaft as by a Iset screw or pin 92. The clutch member 88 isthus non-rotatively but slidably received upon the shaft and is urged towards the lfirst clutch member 18 as by a compression spring 94V which is adjustably compressed against the clutch member` 88 as by` a pair of-lock-nuts 93 carried by the Yscrew threaded portion 98 of this shaft. Axial or endwiseA movement of the shaft 6'0in itsY bearings 58 and 60 is prevented as bymeans ofball or roller thrust bearing assemblies and |02 engaging opposite sides of vthe bearingassembly. 50, and retained as by a collar |04 secured by avv taper pin |03, and

by a pair of` lock nuts |08`secured to the screw.

threaded extremity ||0, of the shaft. Loosely and rotatively journaled upon the shaft 60 between the clutch members 18 and 08 is a sprocket gear assembly or unit indicated generally by the numerall |2 and which is rotated as by a sprocket chain ,I |4`from a p ower source to be laterv def scribed;

It will'now be seen that' the constantly rotating sprocket' chain will rotate the gear unitll2, and through theyielding friction coupling members 18' and 88 will drive the shaft 60. However, when the latter is subjected to a load which is greater than that for which the yieldable clutch has been adjustably set by the adjusting nuts 96., the clutch linings 80 and 84 will slip upon the driving member l2', so that althoughthe latter continues tov rotate, the shaft 60 will cease itsrotation and consequently the ram slide and its oscillating leverwill'likewisestop their operation'. f

Roller feed assemblyv Reference is now made more specifically to Figures 2 and 5 for-a consideration of the roller feed: assembly for positivelyv passing the slats through the coating applyingand spreading portien` of the" apparatus.' A lower'set" of spaced It will now be seen that theV rollers 6 and |-8, iixedly secured,toasupporting? shafts |20 and |22, are positioned inV thesup'-A porting frame l0 adjacentYthe-discharge openingy 20 and have their upper surfaces disposed forreeceiving and supporting the lower'surface of Iaslat discharged from the discharge opening.

This lower set of rollers cooperates with an upper set |24, |26, mounted-on shafts |28 and* |30, which shafts are journaled between upper and lower slide members |32 and |34 which are vertically slidable in a guiding bracketi- |33.L A'. standard |30 is secured to the supporting vframe I0 vand is surrounded by a'compression spring |40; which presses downward upon the slide |32 `to urge the upper set of rollers downwardly against the lower set, this compression spring beingad justably compressed as bya wheel |42 which is screw threaded upon theY screw thre'adeds,ex:-v tremity |44 of the upper end of theshaft |30. The arrangement is such that when a Slat is delivered by the discharge ram to the two sets of feed'rollers, the rotating rollers willdraw the -slat through the same and deliverthe Slat through the rest of the mechanism. The slide members |32 and |34 carryingv the upper set of rollers is permitted to move vupwardly againstv the bias-of the spring |40 so that the upper setA of rollers will yield to accommodate dilferent thicknesses of slats, and to adjustably clampv the slatbetween the upper and lower sets of feed rollers. As soon as the slat is gripped by the upperand lowerset of feed rollers, eachof whch is positively'driven' by a gearing assembly to be later set forth, it will be seen that the slat is positively advanced through the ensuing portions of the apparatus at a uniform and constant rate. '1t will furtherbe seen that the slats are fed from the hopperassembly intermittently and at a non-uniform rate of travel of the slat, but although the end of a slat fed from the hopper may abut the rear end of a slat'passing through the feed rollers, the same cannot accelerate the travel of theslat in the feed rollers but will occasion a yielding of the previouslymentioned slip coupling members of the ram drive mechanism.

In a manner set forth more specifically hereinafter,the shaft |20 is connected with a driving source, andby means of a gear |46, which registers with a gear |48 on a stub axle ld, drives `the gear |52 on the shaft |22. The .gears |43 andi|52 are continuouslyin mesh with gearslliand |55 respectively journaled on stub axles |58 `and |60 mounted upon any suitable support upon the framework l0.

It will thus be seen thata positive .drivingVV action is effected between the fixed mounting gears |54, |45, |48, |52 and |56. Upon the stub axles |58 and |60V are mounted links indicatedv in dotted lines at |32 and ||i4in Figure .7, these .links journaling gears |66 and |30 upon stub .axlesfHl and |03 and which are thus arcuately'movable about but are constantly in mesh with their driving gears|54 and |53. Asecond pair of links indicated in dotted lines V30 and |72 are journaled upon the axis |3| and |63of the gears |66 and |68, and at their outer extremities are provided with gears |14 and |36 which are flxedly secured to the shafts |28 and |30, and which constantly mesh with the gears |46' and |52.- This arrangement is such that the gear |48 connects two sets of four interconnected'gears, each of these sets constituting a parallel bar linkage, whereby the shafts |23 and |30 may bemoved vertically with `respect toA theshafts 210 andV 22 while retaining the driving connection therebetween. Thus, the upper .sets of rollers are constantly driven from the lower sets of rollers while the previously mentioned yielding action between the sets of rollers is permitted.

As shown more clearly in Figure 8, the shaft |22 is provided with a sprocket gear |78 which drives the previously mentioned sprocket chain ||4 by means of which the rotatable shaft 60 of the discharge ram actuating mechanism receives its power.

It will thus be seen that by this interconnected gearing assembly, the roller feed assembly and the discharge ram assembly are simultaneously driven from a common power source and in synchronized relation with respect to each other, while the discharge ram assembly is capable of independent adjustment to calibrate its action with that of the roller feed assembly.

Coating assembly Upon emerging from the roller feed assembly,

the slats are moved past a coating assembly whereby a liquid coating of any desired character, such as varnish or the like, is sprayed upon the slat for subsequent brushing upon the slat.

' This coating assembly may conveniently comprise a storage tank and receptacle |80, see Figure 1, suitably mounted upon the framework of the apparatus and preferably beneath the table 24 thereof. The tank |86 has a delivery conduit |82 which is connected to the intake side of a liquid pump |84 of any suitable character, and which is preferably operated (see Fig. 11) as by a sprocket wheel |86, a sprocket chain |88 and a sprocket gear |90 carried by the shaft |20. From the gear pump |84, the liquid coating is supplied by a pressure conduit |92, to a spray nozzle |94 having a manual adjusting valve |96 thereon, which nozzle is positioned for discharging liquid upon a slat passing thereby. Obviously, any desired number of these spray nozzles may be provided for applying the liquid coating to various portions of the slat passing thereby, such as the top, sides and ends of the slats if desired.

Excess liquid supplied to the nozzles and not delivered thereby to the slats by virtue of the setting of the manual control means |96 of the spray valve, may be returned as by conduit |90 into the tank |89. It will be seen that the volume of liquid coating supplied by the pump |84 to the spray nozzles will vary in accordance with the speed of travel of the slats, in view of the common driving gearing which connects the pump with the roller feed assembly.

Brushing assembly It will be seen that after the liquid coating has been applied to the slats from the spray nozzles, the same will be unevenly applied to the surfaces of the slats, and it is therefore necessary that some means be provided for smoothing the liquid coating uniformly upon the surface of the slat and for removing excess liquid coating therefrom. This means according to the present invention conveniently takes the form of a rst set of brushes which brushes the coating upon the upper surface of the slat, a second set of brushes which applies the coating evenly to the side edges of the slats, and a third set of brushes which serves to coat uniformly Ithe bottom surface of the slats.

As shown best in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the upper brush assembly includes a pair of standards 200 and 202 suitably mounted upon the frame |0,-`

and journaling therebetween a transverse shaft 204 having a horizontally extending arm 206 iixedly secured thereto. It will thus be seen that this arm may be swung in a vertical plane from the horizontal position shown in Figure 1, to an elevated position as desired, and when in the horizontal position may be rested in a support formed by a standard 208. A plurality of vertically disposed brush holders 2|0 are provided with medially disposed vertical slots 2|2 by means of which and through the aid of thumb screws 2|4, the supports may be vertically adjusted upon the member 206. Brushes 2|6 of any conventional design may be detachably secured as by thumb screws 2|8 to the lower eX- tremities of the supports 2 |0, the bristles of these brushes being positioned to properly engage the upper surface of a slat passing therebeneath, as will be apparent from Figures 3, 9 and 10.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, throughout any desired portion of the travel between the upper set of brushes, there is provided a chute having, as shown in Figure 9, a pair of side walls 220 having an integral transverse web 222 forming therewith a U-shaped channel member which is provided with end walls 224 and 228. This channel member is supported upon a suitable platform 228 forming a part of the frame |0, and within the channel member there is provided a pair of supports 230 upon which is mounted a bed plate 232 having longitudinally spaced transversely disposed rib portions 234 dening recessed pockets 236 therebetween. These ribs extend above the end wall 224 so that a slat sliding upon the same will be disposed Vin convenient positions relative to the brushes.

Across the top of the side walls 220 are secured two or more transverse coil springs 238 which support depending guide walls 240 and 242, which engage the sides of a slat passing therethrough for centering the' same and yieldingly guiding the slat in its passage through the chute.

The arrangement is such that as the slat passes through the chute, the depending brushes 2|6 serve to smooth and evenly distribute the coating material upon the upper surface of the slat, excess material being wiped therefrom, and deposited in the recesses 236 beneath the slat. From the lateral edges of these recesses, excessive material ows down into the trough or chute, passing through an opening 244 in the standard 230, and excess coating eventually finds its way through a discharge opening 246 through the web portion 222 of the channel member, and is conducted in a convenient manner back to the tank for reuse. Slatscoming through the machine pick up varnish for the bottom of the slats at 234 and 236 and the excess is brushed out smooth by the lower set of brushes as set forth hereinafter.

Beyond the end of the plate portion 23'2, the walls 220 of the channel shaped member forming the chute are of reduced height and are preferably substantially the same height as the standard 230, and on opposite sides of these walls are pairs of standards 248 upon which are adjustably mounted as by thumb screws 250, transverse supports 252 having longitudinally extending adjusting slots 254 therein. On the ends of these members 252, are laterally disposed brush assemblies indicated at 256 in Figures 9 and 10, these brush assemblies extending laterally or transversely of the path of travel of the slats for brushing the top and bottom surfaces and Aedges of the same, `Any desired .number of this second set of brushes could be provided as deemed to be-necessary, and as shown in Figure 3, this secondsetof brushes-can be'interdigitated with brush -members of the rs't set.

'A nalk or :third set-of 'fbrushes is provided for uniformlyscoatingthe lower surface of the slats passing throughthe-machine- 'This third'set-may 'convenientlycomprise-aplurality of upwardly in- Aclinedfhol'ders -258, each detachably secured Vas by screwsfto a-base-plate 260 mounteduponthe web portion 222 of the trough or chute, suitable resilient springs 262 being provided for yieldingly retaining brush assemblies 264 against the supports l258. The brushes are so disposed as to engage the undersurface of a slat passing therethrough. The coating material for the various brushes is received from that originally deposited upon the surfaces of the slats by the spray nozzles, and picked up by the brushes contacting the slat thereafter. The opening 244 is merely to allow the excess varnish or finishing material to pass through towards point 246 where it passes into receptacle |80.

It will now be seen that after the coating material has been sprayed upon the slats, the same is uniformly distributed throughout the entire surface of the slat by the various sets of brushes. Further, the upper set of brushes may be raised or lowered as desired, the raising of the brushes permitting access to the same for servicing, and for cleaning the recesses 236, for removing the plate 232 and cleaning the chamber between the two standards 230 within the chute.

It will be readily apparent that each of the sets of brushes can be readily adjusted to obtain the most eiiicient operation as desired.

Power operating mechanism The various instrumentalities of this apparatus derive their power from a common source, such as an electric motor 266 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 11 and mounted upon any suitable part ofthe framework of the apparatus. The motor 266 through a suitable reduction gearing, of any suitable design, the casing of which is indicated at 268, imparts power to a driving sprocket '210, which by means of sprocket chain 212 rotates a similar sprocket 214 upon an input shaft 216 of an adjustable variablev speed transmission assembly the casing of which is indicated generally by the numeral 218, and which may be of any suitable desired and known construction.

This variable speed transmission is provided with an output sprocket 285 which by means of sprocket chain 282 operates a sprocket wheel 234 on the extended right hand end of the shaft |20 for driving the same.

As previously mentioned, the shaft |20 drives the shaft |22 through the gear |48. Similarly, the shaft |20 drives the liquid coating pump |84 through the sprocket chain |08, and sprocket gears |90 and |36. At the same time, the shaft |22 through the sprocket gear |10 and chain ||4 drives the shaft 60 for actuating the ram assembly mechanism. Finally, the shafts |20 and |22 through the parallel bar linkage and the gears associated therewith operate the shafts |28 and |30, whereby the lower and upper sets of rolls of the feed roll assembly are positively actuated. From the foregoing, it is felt that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed toy be unnecessary, However, since numerous modifications and change; will readily occur to thoser skilled. in the art after a consideration of -the foregoingV specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit .the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modications and equivalents maybe resortedtofalling within the scopeof the appended claims.

' I-Iavingdescribed the invention,rwhat is iclaimed as new is:

1. A machine for coating slats comprising a hopper for receiving a vertical stack of slats, means for discharging slats from said hopper, a slat coating means, slat feeding means for delivering slats from said discharge means to said coating means, said discharge means comprising a reciprocable ram, a rotatable shaft having a crank, means connecting said shaft to said ram, said connecting means including a lever having a sliding connection with said ram, a pitman attached to said lever and crank for oscillating the lever upon rotation of the shaft, means for driving said shaft, and a yieldable friction coupling between said driving means and said shaft, a fulcrum for said lever, means for adjusting said fulcrum relative to said ram, means for adjusting the effective length of said pitman.

2. In a machine for coating slats, a channel through which slats are passed, a brushing means for wiping the top surfaces of slats comprising an elongated brush holder disposed longitudinally of said channel and thereabove, means pivotally mounting one end of said holder for vertical oscillation about a horizontal axis, supports spaced longitudinally of and mounted upon said holder, and brushes carried by each of said supports.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said supports comprise bars having medial longitudinal slots, fastening means on said holder and extending through said slots for pivotally and longitudinally adjusting said brushes upon said holder.

4. A machine for coating slats comprising a hopper for receiving a vertical stack of slats, means for discharging slats from said hopper, a slat coating means, slat feeding means for delivering slats from said discharge means to said coating means, said discharge means comprising a reciprocable ram, a, rotatable shaft, a crank means on said shaft, means connecting the crank means on said shaft to said ram, said connecting means including a lever having a sliding connection with said ram and a pitman attached to said lever and crank for oscillating the lever upon rotation of the shaft, means for driving said shaft, a yieldable friction coupling between said driving means and said shaft, a fulcrum for said lever, means for adjusting the distance of said fulcrum from said ram, means for adjusting the effective length of said pitman, said ram having a pivot pin, said lever having a slot slidably receiving said pivot pin, said pitman being pivoted to said lever intermediate the ends of the latter, said crank means comprising a member fixedly secured to said shaft and having a slot extending radially of said member, a fastener slidably and adjustably secured in said slot in said member and to said pitman whereby the pitman is connected to said shaft in radially adjusted position.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said means for adjusting the distance of said fulcrum `from said lramrincludes a support on said ma- 4kchine adjacent said hopper and shaft and havng an elongated slot, means pivoting said lever vto said support in adjusted position along said slot.

. BRINEY S. DOMBROWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED l' The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Spencer Mar. 1'7, 1885 McGarrah Feb 7, 1905 Leatherbee Aug. 18, 1914 Cross Nov. 17, 1914 Clark Aug. 7, 1917 Partch Aug. 27,- 1918 Mitchell Aug. 24, 1926 Weber Feb. 15, 1927 

